Review Summary: Music for the world-weary generation
A common complaint by older audiences nowadays is that music lacks the substance of the past. Those of us who have been around for a couple (or more) decades are already aware that this debate has been going on for a very long time. Ignorance and bitterness have always been elements of newer generations’ arguments/accusations towards their senior counterparts and, to an extent, these characterizations have valid grounds.
However, take a moment to think the circumstances in which we live; you have the US presidential election where the public is asked to support the lesser of two evils. And if this isn’t enough, “significant” figures that older audiences adore(d) because of their substance, offer their support towards one side or another, free of charge of course! At the same time, war is as significant as the geographic coordinate system in which it takes place, people are murdered because of their tone of skin or religion, and there is always the possibility of attending a concert and never returning to your loved ones. So how come we don’t have more releases like Suicidal Tendencies’ newest offering? Is it fear of acceptance from the artists’ side, lack of concern or plain cynicism from the audience?
World Gone Mad without being preachy or political, combines all the elements longtime fans have come to expect from Suicidal Tendencies, with stimulating lyrics and an immense drum performance by Dave Lombardo. The influences from the punk scene are present, combined with funky bass-lines, thrashy guitars, fast soloing and Mike Muir’s characteristic delivery. Overall, the album is groovier that their golden-era records probably because of the funk influences but at the same time, the amount of energy is constantly at a high level. Nevertheless, there are darker moments such as on “World Gone Mad!” and “Still Dying to Live”, anthemic ones such as on “One Finger Salute” that is bound to become a fan-favorite and catchy vocal choruses like on “Happy Never After”. At this point, special mention should be made regarding Dave Lombardo’s performance as this is quite a drum-heavy LP. The ex-Slayer legend proves his versatility and gives Suicidal Tendencies a more metallic feeling as he is the driving force behind the music for the most part of the record.
If one wants to single out a flaw, it’s probably the running time that could have been trimmed by removing a stripped down cover version of “This World” for example, which was originally included on
13. Nevertheless, this album succeeds by being incredibly infectious, energetic and at the same time having the needed substance that might stimulate thinking. As a whole,
World Gone Mad is an extremely solid offering by a band who has been around too long to be so solid.
